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How big a part does religion play in your life?
Here's a Sociology paper I did at the beginning of the school year to show my answer. How about you?
“The Part That
Religion Plays In My Life”
Growing up, I was always taught about God, whether it was at church and Sunday school every week, or my father reading to me when I was very young. Everything I was told was done so with such conviction that I totally accepted it, without ever doubting its truthfulness. Then as I grew older and became subject to other people’s views and beliefs, I began to ask the people around me if it was all true. Of course I was told it was, but the fact that I went to church was actually the reason that I now don’t believe in God. I greatly resented my parents for making me give up every Sunday morning to sit and be bored out of my mind, the only reason they gave for it being that it would make me a better person. However, considering I never paid attention in church or didn’t understand what was being said because I was so young, I doubt if I learnt anything at all.
When I was younger my entire family went along, but as my brother and sister got older, they were given the choice to go or stay home, and they unsurprisingly chose to stay clear of church. Even my mum stopped going, and finally, when I was 13, my dad gave in to my demands and stopped forcing me to go. I didn’t care if God existed or not, I was just ecstatic that I didn’t have to sit bored every Sunday morning. I suppose I still believed in God, but I kept it entirely to myself, the same way I’d hidden the fact that I went to church from all my friends. I’m not sure when it happened, but now I’m not sure whether I believe or not. If asked I say I don’t, but if I’m truthful I will say I’m not sure.
Now, aged 17, religion plays a smaller part in my life than ever before. Only my dad goes to church, and I sleep in until 2pm on a Sunday. My ever-decreasing distant family still believe in God, as originally all my family was from the countryside where there is a church in every town, which people attend. Where my dad grew up, church was a big part of everyone’s lives, so it was no surprise he felt the same way when we were growing up. After all, we had a Methodist church just at the top of our street. When his brother died, the funeral was held at the church my uncle had gone to with his children. When my grandmother died, her funeral was at the church my dad had grown up going to. All the funerals at our family have been religious, with the different priests knowing them all personally, unlike a lot of funerals nowadays. All the children in the Rumney family are christened, myself included. I’ve actually attended one or two myself.
In Religious Studies in the first few years of high school, I knew more than anyone in the class about Christianity, showing that I had learnt something after all. Assemblies bored me greatly, as the highly religious Miss Whitfield and Mr Cockburn went on and on about the Lord and how great he was. The only person who could make it semi-interesting was Mr Priestly, but the actual message was lost on many students, in favour of his comedy.
So I was given a Christian upbringing, but it backfired and I resent my dad and the church for boring me so much. You always hear of death row inmates discovering Jesus and the like, having never gone to church in their lives. Funny how that’s the exact opposite of what happened to me.
I’m still confused on my own beliefs. I don’t wear a cross around my neck because I think it’s a bit pointless if I don’t believe in God, something my friends don’t understand. If someone starts an argument about whether any religions are real or not, I will usually side with the people who don’t believe, as the doubt in my head is very small as to whether I believe or not.
So religion should really play a large part in my life, but due to my own decisions of not going to church etc, it isn’t. I pretty much sit on the fence when it comes to whether God exists or not, although if I do believe in him, shouldn’t I be going to church every Sunday and reading the bible and changing my lifestyle to fit the way God tells us to live? So technically I’m going to hell anyway, if the bible is correct. So really, I probably don’t believe in God, because I don’t try to live by anyone’s rules except my own. Totally basing my life on something that could easily be a load of nonsense written by some guy who got bored one day two thousand years ago seems like a pretty unintelligent thing to do, so I’d rather not. I’d rather live my life the way I’ve been doing for the last two or three years and not have to worry about burning in hell or not when I die. I don’t know what happens when we die, but when you think that people believe they’ll be going to heaven because it was written in a book, it makes you wonder. I believe more in UFOs than I do in going to heaven. Just because it was written, doesn’t make it true. God may exist, but I don’t believe anything at all in the bible. In my opinion it was just written by some people who sat down and decided to write a book. I doubt they knew people would be basing their very existence on their collection of short stories. Other religions are now learnt about in history, but as fiction, not fact, such as the Rome gods, Norse mythology etc. It’s only a matter of time until people look back at Christianity and laugh.
So, I don’t think about God at all during a typical day. The only part religion plays in my life is when I tell my dad to turn down his organ because his religious music is annoying me. Whether or not I believe in some higher life form is irrelevant, because I don’t believe in Christianity, never mind the hundreds of other religions.
Andrew Rumney 13JF
Here's a Sociology paper I did at the beginning of the school year to show my answer. How about you?
“The Part That
Religion Plays In My Life”
Growing up, I was always taught about God, whether it was at church and Sunday school every week, or my father reading to me when I was very young. Everything I was told was done so with such conviction that I totally accepted it, without ever doubting its truthfulness. Then as I grew older and became subject to other people’s views and beliefs, I began to ask the people around me if it was all true. Of course I was told it was, but the fact that I went to church was actually the reason that I now don’t believe in God. I greatly resented my parents for making me give up every Sunday morning to sit and be bored out of my mind, the only reason they gave for it being that it would make me a better person. However, considering I never paid attention in church or didn’t understand what was being said because I was so young, I doubt if I learnt anything at all.
When I was younger my entire family went along, but as my brother and sister got older, they were given the choice to go or stay home, and they unsurprisingly chose to stay clear of church. Even my mum stopped going, and finally, when I was 13, my dad gave in to my demands and stopped forcing me to go. I didn’t care if God existed or not, I was just ecstatic that I didn’t have to sit bored every Sunday morning. I suppose I still believed in God, but I kept it entirely to myself, the same way I’d hidden the fact that I went to church from all my friends. I’m not sure when it happened, but now I’m not sure whether I believe or not. If asked I say I don’t, but if I’m truthful I will say I’m not sure.
Now, aged 17, religion plays a smaller part in my life than ever before. Only my dad goes to church, and I sleep in until 2pm on a Sunday. My ever-decreasing distant family still believe in God, as originally all my family was from the countryside where there is a church in every town, which people attend. Where my dad grew up, church was a big part of everyone’s lives, so it was no surprise he felt the same way when we were growing up. After all, we had a Methodist church just at the top of our street. When his brother died, the funeral was held at the church my uncle had gone to with his children. When my grandmother died, her funeral was at the church my dad had grown up going to. All the funerals at our family have been religious, with the different priests knowing them all personally, unlike a lot of funerals nowadays. All the children in the Rumney family are christened, myself included. I’ve actually attended one or two myself.
In Religious Studies in the first few years of high school, I knew more than anyone in the class about Christianity, showing that I had learnt something after all. Assemblies bored me greatly, as the highly religious Miss Whitfield and Mr Cockburn went on and on about the Lord and how great he was. The only person who could make it semi-interesting was Mr Priestly, but the actual message was lost on many students, in favour of his comedy.
So I was given a Christian upbringing, but it backfired and I resent my dad and the church for boring me so much. You always hear of death row inmates discovering Jesus and the like, having never gone to church in their lives. Funny how that’s the exact opposite of what happened to me.
I’m still confused on my own beliefs. I don’t wear a cross around my neck because I think it’s a bit pointless if I don’t believe in God, something my friends don’t understand. If someone starts an argument about whether any religions are real or not, I will usually side with the people who don’t believe, as the doubt in my head is very small as to whether I believe or not.
So religion should really play a large part in my life, but due to my own decisions of not going to church etc, it isn’t. I pretty much sit on the fence when it comes to whether God exists or not, although if I do believe in him, shouldn’t I be going to church every Sunday and reading the bible and changing my lifestyle to fit the way God tells us to live? So technically I’m going to hell anyway, if the bible is correct. So really, I probably don’t believe in God, because I don’t try to live by anyone’s rules except my own. Totally basing my life on something that could easily be a load of nonsense written by some guy who got bored one day two thousand years ago seems like a pretty unintelligent thing to do, so I’d rather not. I’d rather live my life the way I’ve been doing for the last two or three years and not have to worry about burning in hell or not when I die. I don’t know what happens when we die, but when you think that people believe they’ll be going to heaven because it was written in a book, it makes you wonder. I believe more in UFOs than I do in going to heaven. Just because it was written, doesn’t make it true. God may exist, but I don’t believe anything at all in the bible. In my opinion it was just written by some people who sat down and decided to write a book. I doubt they knew people would be basing their very existence on their collection of short stories. Other religions are now learnt about in history, but as fiction, not fact, such as the Rome gods, Norse mythology etc. It’s only a matter of time until people look back at Christianity and laugh.
So, I don’t think about God at all during a typical day. The only part religion plays in my life is when I tell my dad to turn down his organ because his religious music is annoying me. Whether or not I believe in some higher life form is irrelevant, because I don’t believe in Christianity, never mind the hundreds of other religions.
Andrew Rumney 13JF
Page:
Of course what some people think is right is to kill and maim others...
But Ant can I ask whether you believe that stuff about Gpd creating man in his image from sand... (or something to that effect) when there is evidence that we evolved from apes...
Sounds kind of contradictory, so I don't see how BOTH could be true... so what do you believe about that?
Also, I just have to say about this, on Friday, at my schools assembley, the schools reverant (is that how you spell it?) said this prayer and in it was this line-
"We live our lives for you"
And that just made me really angry... why should we live our lives by someone elses rules? Even if an all powerful being exists, why live your life to his/her/its rules, rather than doing what YOU think is right? That line just made me very, very angry at that guy...
anyway... peace.
Sounds kind of contradictory, so I don't see how BOTH could be true... so what do you believe about that?
Also, I just have to say about this, on Friday, at my schools assembley, the schools reverant (is that how you spell it?) said this prayer and in it was this line-
"We live our lives for you"
And that just made me really angry... why should we live our lives by someone elses rules? Even if an all powerful being exists, why live your life to his/her/its rules, rather than doing what YOU think is right? That line just made me very, very angry at that guy...
anyway... peace.
MoJoJoJo wrote:
> "I feel that religion is used to try and explain unexplainable things.
> Where did we come from? How did the earth get here? Etc."
Science
> answers just about all questions, and any that they haven't figured out yet,
> it's only a matter of time till they do.
I'd have to disagree there, I don't believe we'll ever know how we came into being because no one actually witnessed it. We all have our own beliefs, and we'll have to wait and see which is right.
At the moment the Big Bang is "there was nothing...and then a massive explosion!" Yes, there are bits of evidence to support it, but I have my own theory. Stuff like the Big Bang, and other scientific theories are a test of faith from God. We can either go for the easy option and believe in science, or take the harder route (and believe me, it is tough) and belive in God.
Just my opinion though.
> "I feel that religion is used to try and explain unexplainable things.
> Where did we come from? How did the earth get here? Etc."
Science
> answers just about all questions, and any that they haven't figured out yet,
> it's only a matter of time till they do.
I'd have to disagree there, I don't believe we'll ever know how we came into being because no one actually witnessed it. We all have our own beliefs, and we'll have to wait and see which is right.
At the moment the Big Bang is "there was nothing...and then a massive explosion!" Yes, there are bits of evidence to support it, but I have my own theory. Stuff like the Big Bang, and other scientific theories are a test of faith from God. We can either go for the easy option and believe in science, or take the harder route (and believe me, it is tough) and belive in God.
Just my opinion though.
Ant, good for you about your belief... anyway, just a few comments about what you wrote:
Ant wrote:
> Religion plays a huge part in my life.
About a year ago, I think I endured
> the most amazing night of my life. I'd always been brought up as a Christian by
> my family, but Church always bored me. And to be honest, it still does.
Most amazing night of your life eh?
;-)
But I
> went to a Baptismal Serivce at my Church one cold night in December. I watched
> as people confessed their love for God. Some saying that God helped them through
> tragedies, some just saying they had found him during normal life, and had felt
> his presence. Some cried, some smiled. It was amazing...I could feel the buzz
> around the hall, I could feel God's presence. At the end of the service we sang
> one of my favourite hymns, and as I sang I...I, can't explain it. My pastor
> called out, saying anyone who wants to be baptised also can walk up there. I
> partly felt like doing it right then, but also partly felt like I wanted to
> prepare for it.
I did know one thing though: And that was that the Holy
> Spirit had entered me. It had flown through me, and spreaded. I began to shake
> as we sang, and I came up will gossebumps all over. When the service ended, I
> had to sit down for a few minutes to recover.
Yer, I know that feeling... I don't think it is necessarily God or whatever, I got that feeling the first time I listened to 'Bro Hymn Tribute' by Pennywise. That song is dedicated to Jason Matthew Thirsk (RIP) a member of Pennywise. The first time I heard that song I just couldn't believe the passion it had in it, and it basically overwhelmed me, and literally brought tears to my eyes, as the huge chorus of voices sang out for Jason.
Now, over a year later, I'm 14
> an going through some of the toughest years of my relatively short life. I've
> been properly baptised, and everyday I can hear God speaking to me. Not in a
> literal sense, but I know he's there. I pray every night, just asking him to
> help me through the day, and thanking him for all that he's done for me. I don't
> have much self-confidence, so I pray about a lot of things, and it's amazing
> when you realise that God has answered your prayers. I'm not sure I could've got
> through the past few months as well as I did without God's help.
Yer, another thing that I can relate to but not in a religious sense... My belief gets me through the day, not belief in a God, but belief that sooner or later people will start to see what is wrong in the world and start to address some of those issues. Music plays a big part in this too, as through my music there is a release, and politicised music can often help open your eyes to various things going on in the world.
err... thats all for now...
Anyway, I thank everyone who reads this, and I
> thank you all for respecting my views.
good on you for believing. Belief in something is one of the greatest things in life. I just choose to believe in something else.
Thanks for reading, Ant.
no problem...
;-)
Ant wrote:
> Religion plays a huge part in my life.
About a year ago, I think I endured
> the most amazing night of my life. I'd always been brought up as a Christian by
> my family, but Church always bored me. And to be honest, it still does.
Most amazing night of your life eh?
;-)
But I
> went to a Baptismal Serivce at my Church one cold night in December. I watched
> as people confessed their love for God. Some saying that God helped them through
> tragedies, some just saying they had found him during normal life, and had felt
> his presence. Some cried, some smiled. It was amazing...I could feel the buzz
> around the hall, I could feel God's presence. At the end of the service we sang
> one of my favourite hymns, and as I sang I...I, can't explain it. My pastor
> called out, saying anyone who wants to be baptised also can walk up there. I
> partly felt like doing it right then, but also partly felt like I wanted to
> prepare for it.
I did know one thing though: And that was that the Holy
> Spirit had entered me. It had flown through me, and spreaded. I began to shake
> as we sang, and I came up will gossebumps all over. When the service ended, I
> had to sit down for a few minutes to recover.
Yer, I know that feeling... I don't think it is necessarily God or whatever, I got that feeling the first time I listened to 'Bro Hymn Tribute' by Pennywise. That song is dedicated to Jason Matthew Thirsk (RIP) a member of Pennywise. The first time I heard that song I just couldn't believe the passion it had in it, and it basically overwhelmed me, and literally brought tears to my eyes, as the huge chorus of voices sang out for Jason.
Now, over a year later, I'm 14
> an going through some of the toughest years of my relatively short life. I've
> been properly baptised, and everyday I can hear God speaking to me. Not in a
> literal sense, but I know he's there. I pray every night, just asking him to
> help me through the day, and thanking him for all that he's done for me. I don't
> have much self-confidence, so I pray about a lot of things, and it's amazing
> when you realise that God has answered your prayers. I'm not sure I could've got
> through the past few months as well as I did without God's help.
Yer, another thing that I can relate to but not in a religious sense... My belief gets me through the day, not belief in a God, but belief that sooner or later people will start to see what is wrong in the world and start to address some of those issues. Music plays a big part in this too, as through my music there is a release, and politicised music can often help open your eyes to various things going on in the world.
err... thats all for now...
Anyway, I thank everyone who reads this, and I
> thank you all for respecting my views.
good on you for believing. Belief in something is one of the greatest things in life. I just choose to believe in something else.
Thanks for reading, Ant.
no problem...
;-)
MoJoJoJo wrote:
> "I feel that religion is used to try and explain unexplainable things.
> Where did we come from? How did the earth get here? Etc."
Science
> answers just about all questions, and any that they haven't figured out yet,
> it's only a matter of time till they do.
I believe that everything can be answered with a justifyable reason, if you look hard enough. UFO sightings can be explained as bright lights etc but I think they are real, so either is technically an explanation.
As for teachers, our RSD teacher
> would put you on detention for saying "God" in a lesson (as a swear
> word I mean). He was a religious nut
I wouldn't go to the detention, on terms of 'Freedom of Speech' breaching :P Technically, you can swear in school, unless they have a code of conduct that you have signed :( I was very apprehensive over signing the code of conduct, as it said that ALL violence would be punished, as there are times where you have to fight. For instance, if a 10-stone gargantuan monster is attempting to make breakfast out of you, are you going to sit there and take the beatings? Do as I did and knee him in the gahoonies :D
Citzen
> "I feel that religion is used to try and explain unexplainable things.
> Where did we come from? How did the earth get here? Etc."
Science
> answers just about all questions, and any that they haven't figured out yet,
> it's only a matter of time till they do.
I believe that everything can be answered with a justifyable reason, if you look hard enough. UFO sightings can be explained as bright lights etc but I think they are real, so either is technically an explanation.
As for teachers, our RSD teacher
> would put you on detention for saying "God" in a lesson (as a swear
> word I mean). He was a religious nut
I wouldn't go to the detention, on terms of 'Freedom of Speech' breaching :P Technically, you can swear in school, unless they have a code of conduct that you have signed :( I was very apprehensive over signing the code of conduct, as it said that ALL violence would be punished, as there are times where you have to fight. For instance, if a 10-stone gargantuan monster is attempting to make breakfast out of you, are you going to sit there and take the beatings? Do as I did and knee him in the gahoonies :D
Citzen
"I feel that religion is used to try and explain unexplainable things. Where did we come from? How did the earth get here? Etc."
Science answers just about all questions, and any that they haven't figured out yet, it's only a matter of time till they do.
As for teachers, our RSD teacher would put you on detention for saying "God" in a lesson (as a swear word I mean). He was a religious nut
Science answers just about all questions, and any that they haven't figured out yet, it's only a matter of time till they do.
As for teachers, our RSD teacher would put you on detention for saying "God" in a lesson (as a swear word I mean). He was a religious nut
It's good to see that this planet isn't full of meanies, in reply to post just below mine. I try my best to respect all religions (Christianity especially) but I find it hard to actually believe in the presence of God many times. I admit it, I'm a non-believer in god, and I have no preference to change that. With all due respect, there are a hell of a lot of instances that make me percieve 'God' as a figment of our imagination, but there are things that we have to take literally. Firstly, I believe that the bible stories are fictional and never happened. In defence of God and the Bible, it IS easier to write a story than it is to prove it, so there is more proof against it. This is also explainable, but ceases to amaze me: If God existed, why would he let so many bad things happen? It's possible that god cannot interact with us, but only attempt to guide us down the correct path. People who claim to be cured could coincidentally be cured and they see it in their head that God helped them. This may cause a stir, but please take no offence by it: on Television, there is an increasing number of channels devoted to religion or God. We see a lot of people being mirically (is there such a word?) cured On-Air, but I think that this was planned beforehand. I may be wrong, but that defies the anatomic laws that we have. This goes back to the original point: Does God exist? Take what I have said with a pinch of salt, as I have no proof either way. I feel strongly about my views towards religion, but try to respect them to my best.
Citzen.
Citzen.
Religion plays a huge part in my life.
About a year ago, I think I endured the most amazing night of my life. I'd always been brought up as a Christian by my family, but Church always bored me. And to be honest, it still does.
But I went to a Baptismal Serivce at my Church one cold night in December. I watched as people confessed their love for God. Some saying that God helped them through tragedies, some just saying they had found him during normal life, and had felt his presence. Some cried, some smiled. It was amazing...I could feel the buzz around the hall, I could feel God's presence. At the end of the service we sang one of my favourite hymns, and as I sang I...I, can't explain it. My pastor called out, saying anyone who wants to be baptised also can walk up there. I partly felt like doing it right then, but also partly felt like I wanted to prepare for it.
I did know one thing though: And that was that the Holy Spirit had entered me. It had flown through me, and spreaded. I began to shake as we sang, and I came up will gossebumps all over. When the service ended, I had to sit down for a few minutes to recover.
Now, over a year later, I'm 14 an going through some of the toughest years of my relatively short life. I've been properly baptised, and everyday I can hear God speaking to me. Not in a literal sense, but I know he's there. I pray every night, just asking him to help me through the day, and thanking him for all that he's done for me. I don't have much self-confidence, so I pray about a lot of things, and it's amazing when you realise that God has answered your prayers. I'm not sure I could've got through the past few months as well as I did without God's help.
On Monday nights I go to a Youth Christian Group, which is much more interesting than normal Church, I find. I feel at home there, I feel very protected and calm, which is different from when I usually go out, where I feel paranoid and nervous. I can express my feelings to them there, and all the time I know God is watching us.
I've heard, and seen some amazing things. I heard from my youth leader that at a special service he went to once, literally the whole of the congregation fell over due to God's power. One man, who had lost his arm in an accident, found it growing back during a lengthy session of prayer with hundreds of others. I'm not sure if the latter is true, but I believe God can do that.
My Group once stood, hands held out for about half an hour, asking for God's presence. By the end I was sweating and shaking, and one non-believer was lying down, his eyes closed.
Many people test Christianity by talking about the Bible usually. About how things contradict others, and how it doesn't explain some parts of it. I can't explain these, as I can only go by God's word. All I can say is that I know God is there, and unfortunately that doesn't really get through to people until I meet them properly, or get them interested in it. I don't know the facts about Christianity, I'm no mastermind of my own religion. All I know is that I talk to God every night, and I know he listens and answers.
I hope, and know that all of you will respect my views. I wish more people could discover what I've found, but I was lucky. I was lucky to have church-going parents, who are firm believers. I still go to church, and although I do get restless at times, I know that I'm doing what God asks me to. I don't have to. I don't have to go by his rules. If I wanted to, I could go and rob a store if I wanted to. I could make someone's life complete hell, if I wanted to. God wouldn't stop me. He'd try, but it's up to me what I do. And I want to do what God asks of me. Sometimes it is tough, and I have fallen into Satan's trap on many occasions. No Christian is perfect, and I don't mind getting into a bit of mischief sometimes. {:)
Anyway, I thank everyone who reads this, and I thank you all for respecting my views.
Thanks for reading, Ant.
About a year ago, I think I endured the most amazing night of my life. I'd always been brought up as a Christian by my family, but Church always bored me. And to be honest, it still does.
But I went to a Baptismal Serivce at my Church one cold night in December. I watched as people confessed their love for God. Some saying that God helped them through tragedies, some just saying they had found him during normal life, and had felt his presence. Some cried, some smiled. It was amazing...I could feel the buzz around the hall, I could feel God's presence. At the end of the service we sang one of my favourite hymns, and as I sang I...I, can't explain it. My pastor called out, saying anyone who wants to be baptised also can walk up there. I partly felt like doing it right then, but also partly felt like I wanted to prepare for it.
I did know one thing though: And that was that the Holy Spirit had entered me. It had flown through me, and spreaded. I began to shake as we sang, and I came up will gossebumps all over. When the service ended, I had to sit down for a few minutes to recover.
Now, over a year later, I'm 14 an going through some of the toughest years of my relatively short life. I've been properly baptised, and everyday I can hear God speaking to me. Not in a literal sense, but I know he's there. I pray every night, just asking him to help me through the day, and thanking him for all that he's done for me. I don't have much self-confidence, so I pray about a lot of things, and it's amazing when you realise that God has answered your prayers. I'm not sure I could've got through the past few months as well as I did without God's help.
On Monday nights I go to a Youth Christian Group, which is much more interesting than normal Church, I find. I feel at home there, I feel very protected and calm, which is different from when I usually go out, where I feel paranoid and nervous. I can express my feelings to them there, and all the time I know God is watching us.
I've heard, and seen some amazing things. I heard from my youth leader that at a special service he went to once, literally the whole of the congregation fell over due to God's power. One man, who had lost his arm in an accident, found it growing back during a lengthy session of prayer with hundreds of others. I'm not sure if the latter is true, but I believe God can do that.
My Group once stood, hands held out for about half an hour, asking for God's presence. By the end I was sweating and shaking, and one non-believer was lying down, his eyes closed.
Many people test Christianity by talking about the Bible usually. About how things contradict others, and how it doesn't explain some parts of it. I can't explain these, as I can only go by God's word. All I can say is that I know God is there, and unfortunately that doesn't really get through to people until I meet them properly, or get them interested in it. I don't know the facts about Christianity, I'm no mastermind of my own religion. All I know is that I talk to God every night, and I know he listens and answers.
I hope, and know that all of you will respect my views. I wish more people could discover what I've found, but I was lucky. I was lucky to have church-going parents, who are firm believers. I still go to church, and although I do get restless at times, I know that I'm doing what God asks me to. I don't have to. I don't have to go by his rules. If I wanted to, I could go and rob a store if I wanted to. I could make someone's life complete hell, if I wanted to. God wouldn't stop me. He'd try, but it's up to me what I do. And I want to do what God asks of me. Sometimes it is tough, and I have fallen into Satan's trap on many occasions. No Christian is perfect, and I don't mind getting into a bit of mischief sometimes. {:)
Anyway, I thank everyone who reads this, and I thank you all for respecting my views.
Thanks for reading, Ant.
Sibs wrote:
And just think... how many religious wars have their been? From stuff in the middle east, to Northern Ireland religion has been a source of conflict for centuries, and it doesn't seem to be stopping. Now you can put this down to people misinterprating their religion, but what makes them willing to die for their cause is their belief.
I think you'll find that religion isn't the reason for the wars, more the excuse.
Some stupid leader thinks "Hmmm, my country is a bit small, I need to make it bigger. Hey, those infidels over there don't believe the same as me! Kill them! Then I can have their country as well...".
See?
Anyway, my views on religion:
I went to a CofE Primary School, I went to sunday school, and I am a Godfather. But I'm bot religous at all. Seems a bit pointless, doesn't it?
I've never really believed in God, or been a particularly religous person. My family isn't either. I think I just got sent to Sunday School as my parents thought it was the right thing to do, I'm not sure.
I feel that religion is used to try and explain unexplainable things. Where did we come from? How did the earth get here? Etc.
Now that a lot of these questions can be answered by science, we have less need for religion, as we have another way of explaining things. Either wat could be correct, but people find it easier to believe in science, than to believe in God.
And just think... how many religious wars have their been? From stuff in the middle east, to Northern Ireland religion has been a source of conflict for centuries, and it doesn't seem to be stopping. Now you can put this down to people misinterprating their religion, but what makes them willing to die for their cause is their belief.
I think you'll find that religion isn't the reason for the wars, more the excuse.
Some stupid leader thinks "Hmmm, my country is a bit small, I need to make it bigger. Hey, those infidels over there don't believe the same as me! Kill them! Then I can have their country as well...".
See?
Anyway, my views on religion:
I went to a CofE Primary School, I went to sunday school, and I am a Godfather. But I'm bot religous at all. Seems a bit pointless, doesn't it?
I've never really believed in God, or been a particularly religous person. My family isn't either. I think I just got sent to Sunday School as my parents thought it was the right thing to do, I'm not sure.
I feel that religion is used to try and explain unexplainable things. Where did we come from? How did the earth get here? Etc.
Now that a lot of these questions can be answered by science, we have less need for religion, as we have another way of explaining things. Either wat could be correct, but people find it easier to believe in science, than to believe in God.
SHEEPY wrote:
> Two years ago in Religous Education which I was forced to go to...
There was
> a paper and a question was my personal opinion on religion...
I got given the
> paper back and it said that section was wrong... thats right my own opinion is
> wrong and I was asked for my opinion...
Bloody School.
That is what I classify as out of order. Just today someone told the teacher that a certain student was absent and I quote the teacher 'Is your name [insert name]? No then shut up!'. Teachers are more damn trouble than they're worth a lot of the time. I personally don't care about religion one way or the other. I get annoyed by persistent Jahovas Witnesses (not ones that go away after a while) and there should be some sort of subscription service to if you want to be bombarded with all that religious gobbledegook. Of course I respect religion but I don't particularly want to be any part of it. I wasn't baptised, anyone else?
> Two years ago in Religous Education which I was forced to go to...
There was
> a paper and a question was my personal opinion on religion...
I got given the
> paper back and it said that section was wrong... thats right my own opinion is
> wrong and I was asked for my opinion...
Bloody School.
That is what I classify as out of order. Just today someone told the teacher that a certain student was absent and I quote the teacher 'Is your name [insert name]? No then shut up!'. Teachers are more damn trouble than they're worth a lot of the time. I personally don't care about religion one way or the other. I get annoyed by persistent Jahovas Witnesses (not ones that go away after a while) and there should be some sort of subscription service to if you want to be bombarded with all that religious gobbledegook. Of course I respect religion but I don't particularly want to be any part of it. I wasn't baptised, anyone else?
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